$6,000 - not a felony?

One employee gets a 29-day suspension recently for what may have been a $6,000 "theft" of County money for false claims for over-time pay, yet previous employees were much more harshly disciplined by Sheriff Keith Nygren following a 1998 matter. You be the judge...

Was Nygren just flexing his muscle then, after only about a year on the job as Sheriff? What has happened over the years? Why is $6,000 not a felony?

"The McHenry County Merit Commission Thursday gave county jailer Brenda Goodwin a 60-day suspension without pay for allegedly participating in a $315 payroll fraud scheme.

"Special Assistant State's Atty. James Harrison, representing Sheriff Keith Nygren, said he will appeal the decision to the McHenry County Circuit Court. Nygren wanted the commission to fire Goodwin.

 "In August 1998, Goodwin was accused of helping former guard Alan Witort get paid for three sick days when he should have been charged for vacation days.

"As a result, Witort improperly received pay for three days of unused vacation when he quit the department, according to Nygren. A third guard, Sgt. Darren Garrison, was fired for his role in the alleged scheme.

"Witort, Goodwin and Garrison were indicted by a McHenry County grand jury in August 1998. 

The charges were all Class 3 felonies punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison

'Case law in the State of Illinois is clear as a bell,' Harrison said."

Can you believe running off to a Grand Jury over $315? So, why wouldn't Nygren head for the Grand Jury over $6,000? 

Should the Grand Jury look into Nygren's conduct? Should a Special Prosecutor be looking into Nygren's actions and decision-making (or lack thereof) in this recent case?